Headlines

D.R. Patterson

The 51st state?

PEDRO Pierluisi, Puerto Rico’s resident commissioner, who acts as the island’s representative to the executive branch and in Congress — where he can vote in committee, though not on the House floor — says that action is needed.

On Nov. 14, he gave a speech on the House floor offering a compelling defense of both the process and the results of the Nov. 6 plebiscite. Mr. Pierluisi, who is pro-statehood, correctly called the island’s current status “colonial in nature” and made a forceful argument against those who would dismiss the election’s outcome. “Some wish to downplay the results of the plebiscite by citing the voters who left the second question blank, but this argument does not withstand scrutiny,” he said. “In our democracy, outcomes are determined by ballots properly cast. Power rests with the citizen who votes, not the one who stays home or refuses to choose from among the options provided.”

I had a long conversation with Mr. Pierluisi the day after he spoke on the House floor. He insists that either Congress or the Obama administration should respect the plebiscite and take action — perhaps by creating another, improved plebiscite that includes both the current commonwealth status as an option, and clearer, fuller explanations of what the alternatives would mean.

He hopes public pressure, including from other Hispanic voters, and possibly international prodding, encourages Congress or the White House to act. “If Congress doesn’t do anything with this,” he told me, “I don’t rule out going to the United Nations or the Organization of American States.” Mr. Pierluisi won’t do so immediately, he said, “because I have to believe in Congress doing its job.”

Blowback

Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.

If I have to hear the word “Latino” for the next 4 years my head is going to explode. If you want to be referred to “Latino” find another country…we are Americans. Some from German descent, some from Asian descent, some from Italian descent but now we are Americans.

Here’s where Romney’s “47 percent” comment is really going to come into play. Puerto Rico voters in the past had rejected statehood because their commonwealth status allowed them many benefits of U.S. citizenship, such as unrestricted travel to and from the continent and government benefit programs, without the requirement to pay income tax. In short, they gained more economically from not being a state than from seeking statehood status.

But once you get to the situation where half the voters are not paying any income taxes, than they have no reason not to oppose statehood — they’re not paying federal taxes now, and they won’t be paying them if Puerto Rico becomes the 51st State. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Democrats use this as a wedge issue with Hispanic voters, especially in the run-up to 2016, but it would probably do the Republicans well to add up the number of people on the island who — based on current demographics — won’t be paying a dime in federal taxes under the statehood plan.

Based on current economic income levels, it wouldn’t be a shock if that number came to over 50 percent of the adult voting population. If that’s the case, there may still be enough voters in enough states grouchy enough about taking on that sort of something-for-nothing subsidy to make it at least a mid-term election negative for anyone pushing the Puerto Rico statehood issue in 2014.

Yes, just what we need–another guaranteed blue state complete with 2 senators, 3-4 house members, and electoral college votes for Democrats. Why not just formally dissolve the GOP & be done with it?

Outlander on November 25, 2012 at 10:10 AM

Republicans should insist that one condition of statehood for Puerto Rico would be that for the first time in a century we increase the House of Representatives. Let’s say we added 15 seats to make it a nice even 450. Most of the population increase now is going to red states–last census Texas picked up four seats, GA,SC, UT, and AZ each added one. Meanwhile it was the old blue states like Ohio and Michigan that lost seats. So if the GOP plays it correctly, the Republican candidate for president could actually increase his electoral total due to the addition of Puerto Rico.

“Over the last 15 months, we’ve traveled to every corner of the United States. I’ve now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. Alaska and Hawaii, I was not allowed to go to even though I really wanted to visit, but my staff would not justify it.”

It’s as good as BOs. Who’s going to quibble over a small error like that. Beside I know for a fact the the phantom state is a red state.
OKay! It would be the 61st state and not the 62nd. Big deal it’s not like I’m a highly educated scientist or anything. Oh wait…. Good thing I live and work in MA and my boss and co-workers are libs who would never come here anyway. Heck they all voted for Warren and beleive in CAGW so it just shows you that we scientist types aren’t very bright anyway.

I’ve long believed that Puerto Rico should be given the choice of statehood or independence – with no third option. So if they do choose statehood I’ll welcome them aboard this listing ship despite the potential political consequences. I’d also like to take a second look at Guam, the American Samoa, US Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands to see if either of these options are possible.

One more thing, good idea from above about increasing House seats even though the thought of adding more politicians in Washington is… unsettling.

We already have a 51st state. That would be Bernakansas (AKA the Fed). It is responsible for 22% of federal revenue and 8% of GDP. If its world-renowned printing presses ever shut down, we’re in big trouble!

Yeah, we need another welfare state… all part of the plan to kill any wealth except for those in the politburo… why don’t we just cut them loose, they can sneak over the border like everyone else for the freebies.